Man suspected in three armed robberies arrested

A man suspected of robbing three San Diego gas stations at gunpoint Monday night was arrested about an hour and a half later following a brief chase in National City.

The robberies were committed in a 90-minute spree beginning about 7:30 p.m., San Diego police said.

The first was reported at a Shell gas station on F Street in the Golden Hill community. A man with a gun walked up to a clerk and demanded cash, police said. He left with an undetermined amount of money.

About thirty minutes later, a similar robbery was reported at the 76 gas station on First Avenue in the community of Cortez. The third robbery was committed about 9:10 p.m. at a Shell gas station on Division Street in the Shelltown community.

Police suspected the robber, described as a thin Latino man in his 30s or 40s, made his getaways in a green Ford Ranger pickup.

Less than two hours later, Border Patrol agents tried to pull over the pickup in National City, but the vehicle fled. The agents and National City police officers searched the area and soon located a man.

Officers recognized the vehicle as one that may be linked to the robbery spree, and the suspect was turned over to San Diego police. He was later arrested in connection with the crimes.